MovieChat Forums > The Legend of Billie Jean (1985) Discussion > Binx was an AWFUL attempt to cash in on ...

Binx was an AWFUL attempt to cash in on 80s teen craze


It is usually never in my nature to post wanton opinions that hold a grudge against any type of cinema, but I did want to share my feelings, as I have felt them ever since I viewed this atavistic piece of cinema.

Binx has got to be the most obvious, synthetically injected character I have ever seen in any sort of cinema. He's the dumbest, most contrived, and irredeemable character in the movie, in a lot of movies! He spouts off one liners and exclamations that are meant to portray him as "cool" or "likeable" - and we are supposed to forgive these and all of his other faults because he is the dumb kid who needs his sister to protect him.

The whole characterization is summed up for me when after HE points a fake gun at a cop, everyone thinks it's real as they are supposed to (his sister even tells him this), and they go on a wild chase, are shot back at, and their car is ruined, he is talking with his Sister and asks "why were those people shooting at us?" It's one of the most unforgivable moments and completely high jacks the rest of the picture. There is no reason to continue viewership. The character is revealed in all his stupidity, eclipsed by his Sister for not realizing and responding to him "I don't know". You don't?

Reasons for all of the above - the studio was trying to cash in on the new wave of monopolizing teen actors. pictures like this one led to the Patrick Dempsey cheesecakes, the coming of age lullabies, and only served to preempt the 90s with even worse fare (Nickolodean movies).

Stand by Me, and The Goonies were very well done and have stood the test of time as audience favorites. There is a reason why this one hasn't.

reply

I avoided this movie when it came out because I can't stand the self-aggrandizing attitude of Texas and how everything there is so "Legendary". I have cousins who live in Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Houston and El Paso and none of those places to me stood out as all that great but oh boy when you visit Texas they have billboards exclaiming how Big their cattle are and how Big their state is when in fact it's smaller than Alaska and is hardly as geographically diverse as California or even places right next door like Colorado and New Mexico.

The premise of this movie was of no interest to me as she was never really THAT big of a fugitive for what she did. If you want to see a truer story about a native Texan turned fugitive and hunted down like a dog, look up The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. Of course, it doesn't involve blue eyed blonde girls so its appeal doesn't extend beyond those who just want a true dramatic story that is more relevant to the history of Texas than this tripe.

reply

It's a mass produced teen film I agree.

reply